Multiple blade loaf slicer



H. E. HOUSTON MULTIPLE BLADE LOAF SLICER V Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1956 INVENTOR.

A77'0ZA/EYS Feb. 25, 1958 H. E. HOUSTON 7 MULTIPLE BLADE LOAF SLICER Filed June 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35 w 4 k Haws u u n l u I H H H r I l H I l I L U W 40 MUWL UH .ULHLML ifi ,1? Z41 5 55 /2 rm. 4 WW 5%? United I States Patent 2,824,587 MULTIPLE BLADE LOAF SLICER Harold E. Houston, Casper, Wyo- Application June 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,639 2 Claims. (Cl. 146-150) This invention relates to a device for slicing lunch meats, and more particularly has reference to a device of this nature so designed as to slice a complete loaf of lunch meat, cheese, or the like, with the loaf being cut into slices through its full length by a single downward movement of a knife assembly.

Most usually, lunch meat is made in large loaves or bars, and the slices are cut therefrom, starting at one end of the loaf and continuing to the other end. In many instances, it is desired to slice a large quantity, and under these circumstances, considerable time is lost while the loaf is sliced in a conventional meat slicer. Such instances arise, for example, when a large number of sandwiches or the like are to be made for picnics, etc.

In view of the above, the present invention has as one important object the provision of means for slicing the entire leaf in a single operation.

Another object is to permit the slicing Operation to be carried out without the use of electric motors or the like, thus to permit manufacture of the device at a minimum cost.

Another object is to form the device in such a manner as to permit the slicing to be carried out with a minimum expenditure of physical effort.

A further object is to provide means on the blade assembly for tensioning the blades, and also for facilitating the replacement of an individual blade without disturbing the remaining components of the blade assembly.

Another object is to provide a device of the type referred to which, through the medium of spacers of selected thickness, will permit assembly of the blades in a desired spaced relationship, thus to permit slicing of the loaf in a manner that will form the slices to a selected, adjusted thickness.

Other objects will appear from the following 'descrip tion, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a meat slicer formed according to the invention, portions being broken away and other portions being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a slightly enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, substantially on line 33 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a slightly enlarged side elevational view of the device as seen from the right of Figure 2, with the blade assembly lowered to slice the loaf.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device constituting the invention includes a blade assembly generally designated 10, adapted to be shifted downwardly from its Figure 3 to its Figure 4 position relative to a stationary support frame generally designated 11, in which support frame the loaf L of meat, cheese, or other food is supported. While the blade assembly is being shifted downwardly, a horizontal reciprocating motion may be imparted thereto to facilitate the cutting action, and further, the blade assembly may be tilted in either direction while being moved downwardly and horizontally reciprocated, for further facilitating the cutting of the loaf.

Considering first the construction of the blade assembly 10, this includes a rectangular, open center frame 12, which at opposite sides of the blade assembly is formed with flat ledge portions 14. On one ledge portion there are fixedly mounted first handle support arms 16 extending substantially horizontally, outwardly from the adjacent side of the frame 12, and connected between the outer ends of arms 16 is a handle 18. On the other ledge portion approximately triangular, upwardly projecting handle support plates 20 are fixedly mounted, and connected between the apex portions thereof is a handle 22. One handle is thus higher than the other and further is disposed inwardly from its adjacent side of the frame as distinguished from the other handle 18. This facilitates the grasping of the frame 12 in a manner such as will facilitate downward movement, horizontal reciprocation, and tiltable movement thereof.

Spaced uniformly apart longitudinally of the frame 12, at opposite sides thereof, are inwardly extending bolts 24, having longitudinal slots at their inner ends and transverse openings intersecting the slots, to receive elongated blade support pins 26 that extend fully from one to the opposite end of the frame inwardly a short distance from the respective sides of the frame. Pins 26 pass through spacer blocks 28, and also through blocks 30. In the illustrated example, between adjacent bolts 24 there are provided a single spacer block 30 (which is thicker than either spacer block 28) and a pair of spacer blocks 28 one at each side of block 30.

Extending transversely of the frame in parallel relation and spaced uniformly apart by the spacer blocks over the full length of the frame are elongated cutting blades 32 having sharpened lower edges (Figure 3). At its opposite ends, each cutting blade 32 has openings receiving pins 26. The spacer blocks cooperate with the bolts 24 in providing the desired uniform spacing of the cutting blades.

Threaded on the outer ends of the bolts 24, and bearing against the opposite sides of the frame 12, are adjusting nuts 30. By threading the nuts inwardly of their associated bolts, the blades will be tensioned, The tension can be relaxed by backing nuts away from the respective sides of the frame.

This completes the construction of the depressible blade assembly, and it will be seen that said assembly, when shifted from its upper, Figure 3 to its lower, Figure 4 position, will slice the entire loaf L in a single cutting operation.

Referring now to the stationary loaf support frame 11, this is of a basket-like formation, and includes a longi tudinal reinforcing bar 38 extending horizontally, medially between the opposite sides of the device. At its opposite ends bar 38 is fixedly secured in upwardly opening depressions formed in the midlength portions of U shaped end frames 40.

At opposite sides of the bar 38, there are provided pairs of side frame members 42, and fixedly engaged in slots 44 defined between the members of each pair are the ends of U-shaped support rods 46. Fixedly secured to and depending from the bight portions of rods 46 are U-shaped retainers or holders 48 receiving the bar 38, which is fixedly secured in said retainers. The side frame members 42 are fixedly attached at their opposite ends to the respective end frames 40. i

It will be seen that this defines a trough-like support for the loaf L, which support has blade-receiving spaces over its full length, so that the blades may be shifted downwardly within the support, terminating at the lower limit of their travel in engagement with the bottom bar 38.

In use, the blade assembly is lifted, and the loaf is inserted through either end of the support frame 11, so as to be supported in the frame 11 below the blade assembly. It is merely necessary then that the blade assembly be pressed downwardly. At the same time, the blade assembly can be given a sawing motion by horizontal reciprocation thereof. Still further, the blade assembly may be rocked if desired, to provide a shearing action as the blades cut through the loaf. When the blades engage against the bottom bar 38, the loaf, which will be supported at its bottom slightly above the bar 38 by the bight portions of the rods 46 (see Figure 3) will be cut through its full depth, forming the same into slices over its entire length. It will be understood that the bottom bar 38 provides an abutment which will limit the downward movement of the blades, but if one desires to protect the sharpened edges of the blades, he may, by

becoming familiar with the device through constant use, halt the downward movement of the blades before they engage the bottom bar but after they have moved through the bottom surface of the loaf being cut. In any event,

the botom bar is of narrow width, so as to engage the blades over only a small part of their length, so that a loss of he sharpened edges is held to a minimum.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for slicing food in loaf form comprising: a stationary, support frame of generally rectangular outer configuration when viewed in plan and formed trough-like so as to receive, for slicing in the frame, a food in loaf form; and a blade assembly wholly free of connections to the support frame and adapted to be moved downwardly through the trough in the frame, comprising a blade frame also rectangular in plan and having a center opening rectangularly shaped in general correspondence with the support frame and receiving the support frame sufficiently snugly that the corners of the rectangular support frame will provide moving blade assembly, said blade assembly further including parallel blades extending across the support frame within the center opening of the blade frame, and means connecting the blades at their ends to opposite sides of guides for the downwardly the blade frame, said support frame including U-shaped end frames the bight portions of which are formed with upwardly opening recesses, 21 bottom bar having its ends seated in said recesses and fixedly connected to the end frames of the support frame, said bottom bar providing an abutment in the path of downward movement of the blades for limiting downward movement of said blades, U-shaped rods alternating with the blades and cooperating to define the trough of the support frame, said rods having bight portions spaced upwardly a short distance from the bottom bar, for engagement of the blades against the bottom bar immediately following movement of the blades past the bight portions of the rods, and pairs of side frame members connected between the end frames, the side frame members of each pair defining a slot with the ends of the rods being fixedly engaged in the slots defined by the respective pairs of side frame members.

2. A device for slicing food in loaf form comprising: a stationary, support frame of generally rectangular outer configuration when viewed in plan and formed troughlike so as to receive, for slicing in the frame, a food in loaf form; and a blade assembly wholly free of connections to the support frame and adapted to be moved downwardly through the trough in the frame, comprising a blade frame also rectangular in plan and having a center opening rectangularly shaped in general correspondence with the support frame and receiving the support frame sufficiently snugly that the corners of the rectangular support frame will provide guides for the downwardly moving blade assembly, said blade assembly further including parallel blades extending across the support frame within the center opening of the blade rame, and means connecting the blades at their ends to opposite sides of the blade frame, said connecting means comprising elongated pins extending through the ends of the blades and carried by the blade frame, there being a pair of said pins with one pin extending through one end of all the blades and the other pin extending through the other ends of all the blades, said connecting means further including bolts rotatable in said sides of the blade frame and having slots receiving the ends of some of the respective blades, said bolts having transverse openings intersecting the slots of the bolts with the pins extending through the transverse openings of the bolts, and nuts threaded upon the bolts and bearing against said sides of the blade frame for shifting the bolts in an axial direction, thus to place the blades under selected tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 717,223 Leachman Dec. 30, 1902 1,474,767 Du Bugue Nov. 20, 1923 2,478,515 Vincent Aug. 9, 1949 

